Hope to see ya all there, This is the finish line, The city needs to see the supporyt like they did Jan 9th, This is a big investment for all other than you know who? Please bring a Bob's item if ya round one up or just yourself and we'll show the city that all of our efforts mean well for the betterment of their community.
7:30pm Downey City Council Chambers

Johnieâ€™s Broiler property owner Christos Smyrniotis said today that an agreement has been reached in principle for Bobâ€™s to take over Johnieâ€™s, restoring the diner with its 1950â€™s Googie architecture and bustling carhops.

The two sides are now waiting for the historical architectural firm of Chattel Architecture, Planning and Preservation, hired by the city to survey the property two weeks ago, to present its findings, Smyrniotis said.

â€œSo far so good. We have agreed in principle and now weâ€™re waiting for the report to come back,â€ Smyrniotis said. â€œIt appears to me that [Bobâ€™s Big Boy] is very excited. Itâ€™s only a matter of time.â€

John Perfitt, Economic Development Director for the city of Downey, confirmed that an agreement was reached in principle last Friday, but was careful to stress that both sides were still combing over the particulars of a long-term lease agreement.

â€œI would use the metaphor that weâ€™re a traffic cop,â€ Perfitt said in regards to the cityâ€™s role in the negotiations. â€œBut weâ€™re trying to facilitate Bobâ€™s moving in because itâ€™s what everybody wants.â€
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People who support the preservation of the former JohnieÃ­s Broiler restaurant in Downey display signs at the Downey City Council meeting last week.
By ARNOLD ADLER, Staff Writer 06.MAR.08
DOWNEY Ã³ After listening to an hour of harsh criticism from residents Feb. 12, the City Council was showered with praise Feb. 28 for their efforts to have the Big Boy chain rebuild and operate the former JohnieÃ­s Broiler.

Several dozen supporters of the 1960s-style eatery at 7447 Firestone Blvd. spoke during the public comment portion of the agenda, supporting the cityÃ­s efforts and urging JohnieÃ­s owner Christos Smyrniotis to sell the site to the Big Boy chain.

They were energized by the announcement Feb. 12 by Gilbert Levas, deputy city manager for community development, that negotiations are under way.

Ã¬Our goal is to rebuild [the restaurant] as it was before,Ã® Levas said Feb. 12, adding that the entire site is larger than needed for the restaurant, but plans are to lease part of the property to an incoming Nissan dealership for vehicle storage.

Supporters of the restaurant carried signs reading Ã¬Rebuild it and they will come,Ã® Ã¬Christos, just say yes,Ã® Ã¬HarveyÃ­s and JohnieÃ­s equal BobÃ­sÃ® and Ã¬Fat Boys Rock.Ã®

Ã¬I experienced a true moment of happiness,Ã® said Downey resident and JohnieÃ­s advocate Analisa Ridenour about efforts to reopen a restaurant on the site. Ã¬We look to [the City Council] for leadership to bring [Big Boy)] here. We applaud your efforts.Ã®

More than half of the building that housed the restaurant was illegally demolished Jan. 7, 2007. A former tenant of the site, Ardas Yanik, who operated a used car dealership there and sought to build a shopping center, was found guilty of illegal demolition last October.

The lease reverted back to Smyrniotis, a Downey resident, who has pledged to cooperate with restoration efforts by the city.

Several people used the JohnieÃ­s experience to emphasize the need for an historic preservation ordinance to control the demolition of historic buildings.

Ã¬This incident could start the reincarnation of the whole area,Ã® resident George Redfox said. Ã¬We need a historic preservation law. Without such a law landmark buildings could go. We have a lot of things worth preserving,Ã®

Another Downey resident, Kathleen Perez, agreed.

Ã¬We must adopt an ordinance before bulldozers destroy DowneyÃ­s past. We believe in saving history and in miracles,Ã® she said. - Photo by Arnold Adler

DOWNEY - Fifteen months after an illegal demolition, a year-long building Moratorium and well- attended classic-car cruises in its honor, Johnie's Broiler is being resurrected as a Bob's Big Boy.

Torrance Bob's Big Boy owner Jim Louder confirmed that there is a long-term lease agreement between he and Johnie's owner Christos "Johnie" Smyrniotis.

"We're moving ahead with our plans," Louder said. "And we have a lot of work to do to get to this construction stage and whatnot, but I'm hoping to be able to start with the demolition fairly soon."

Johnie's Broiler, 7447 Firestone Blvd., was illegally bulldozed in January 2007 by Smyrniotis' lessee, Ardas Yanik. Yanik, who has since apologized for the razing, was subleasing to a used car dealership.

Since its demolition, local groups such as Friends of Johnie's and Coalition to Rebuild Harvey's organized cruises in hopes of attracting investors willing to rebuild the Googie-style drive-through.

The site was originally a Harvey's Broiler owned by Harvey Ortner, who opened it in 1958. It was bought by Smyrniotis in 1966 and renamed Johnie's. At the height of its popularity and business, Johnie's was a major spot for hot-rodders and car enthusiasts, with a facility that accommodated up to 350 parked vehicles and offered car service for 98.

In December, city leaders decided not to extend the site's development moratorium. Instead, an agreement was drawn between the city and Smyrniotis, stating that any future developments at the site would be overseen by the city.

It also made Smyrniotis responsible for reimbursing the city's $25,000 cost of hiring a historic preservation consultant to evaluate and determine which of Johnie's remaining architectural elements are still salvageable. Among the survivors was the drive-through's famous "Fat Boy" sign.

Adriene Biondo - whose nonprofit organization has consulted with the city - considered news of the new lease agreement in a different light.

"I feel like (Louder)'s making history with these first steps to reconstruct the Broiler," she said.

Biondo praised city officials for putting a moratorium on the 90,000- square-foot site. Although Downey doesn't have a historic preservation ordinance in place, the City Council's decision to respond to community concerns contributed to conservation efforts, she said.

"It's very rare for a city to do that," Biondo said of the moratorium and the city's involvement in Johnie's post-demolition affairs. "If they hadn't left the building alone, we wouldn't be able to do that (salvage architectural pieces)."

Downey Deputy City Manager Gilbert Livas said the next step for Johnie's would be a clean-up of the site, an undertaking that falls under Louder's financial responsibility.

DOWNEY - Fifteen months after an illegal demolition, a year-long building Moratorium and well- attended classic-car cruises in its honor, Johnie's Broiler is being resurrected as a Bob's Big Boy.

Torrance Bob's Big Boy owner Jim Louder confirmed that there is a long-term lease agreement between he and Johnie's owner Christos "Johnie" Smyrniotis.

"We're moving ahead with our plans," Louder said. "And we have a lot of work to do to get to this construction stage and whatnot, but I'm hoping to be able to start with the demolition fairly soon."

Johnie's Broiler, 7447 Firestone Blvd., was illegally bulldozed in January 2007 by Smyrniotis' lessee, Ardas Yanik. Yanik, who has since apologized for the razing, was subleasing to a used car dealership.

Since its demolition, local groups such as Friends of Johnie's and Coalition to Rebuild Harvey's organized cruises in hopes of attracting investors willing to rebuild the Googie-style drive-through.

The site was originally a Harvey's Broiler owned by Harvey Ortner, who opened it in 1958. It was bought by Smyrniotis in 1966 and renamed Johnie's. At the height of its popularity and business, Johnie's was a major spot for hot-rodders and car enthusiasts, with a facility that accommodated up to 350 parked vehicles and offered car service for 98.

In December, city leaders decided not to extend the site's development moratorium. Instead, an agreement was drawn between the city and Smyrniotis, stating that any future developments at the site would be overseen by the city.

It also made Smyrniotis responsible for reimbursing the city's $25,000 cost of hiring a historic preservation consultant to evaluate and determine which of Johnie's remaining architectural elements are still salvageable. Among the survivors was the drive-through's famous "Fat Boy" sign.

Adriene Biondo - whose nonprofit organization has consulted with the city - considered news of the new lease agreement in a different light.

"I feel like (Louder)'s making history with these first steps to reconstruct the Broiler," she said.

Biondo praised city officials for putting a moratorium on the 90,000- square-foot site. Although Downey doesn't have a historic preservation ordinance in place, the City Council's decision to respond to community concerns contributed to conservation efforts, she said.

"It's very rare for a city to do that," Biondo said of the moratorium and the city's involvement in Johnie's post-demolition affairs. "If they hadn't left the building alone, we wouldn't be able to do that (salvage architectural pieces)."

Downey Deputy City Manager Gilbert Livas said the next step for Johnie's would be a clean-up of the site, an undertaking that falls under Louder's financial responsibility.

Our esteemed ModCom chair Adriene and I were talking about the light fixtures at the original Harvey's Broiler. Can anyone identify these? They appear to be three white glass shades hung on a single fixture. I've seen similar lamps described as "Danish Modern Pendant."
Is anybody replicating a ceiling fixture like this?
Thanks

DOWNEY - City leaders tonight will consider entering an agreement with the new tenant of the former Johnie's Broiler site.

This "Owner Participation Agreement" with Torrance Bob's Big Boy franchise owner Jim Louder would require the city to provide $900,000 to be spent on a sublease and a 10-year job development program, allowing city leaders to take part in the site's rehabilitation, reconstruction and preservation efforts...

Amazingly, after all it's been through, the Broiler will live again! So many people didn't believe in us, but here we are.

Of course this wouldn't be happening without Jim. And he's working hard to get it right. Before we know it, we'll be cruising the Broiler again and attending a spectacular grand opening!

Sincere thanks to CycloneKevin for stepping up to help me in the days following the demolition, then taking on the responsibility for leading the Coalition to Rebuild the Broiler, attending Superior Court hearings, etc., etc. Kevin's also kept an important thread on the Jalopy Journal/HAMB going continuously since the CBS breaking news broadcast.

You guys worked so hard to save a place you cared about--you should inspire many who also try to save buildings and other places from the wrecking ball. You show that even after the wrecking ball has swung, it is not too late!

I cant wait to go have lunch at the Broiler! I've never been (it was closed after I moved to CA) but it will surely be a great experience!

Chris, that three pendant light fixture is as close as you're going to find in a reproduction, I've bought a lamp from Rejuvenation before (the company that is running this Satellite site) and the quality is very good. I'm sure they'll be able to tailor the different pendant heights to match whatever was there originally. I like it!